1to wish you had the same qualities, possessions, opportunities, etc. as somebody elseenvy somebodyHe envied her—she seemed to have everything she could possibly want.envy somethingShe has always envied my success.envy somebody somethingI envied him his good looks.envy somebody doing somethingI envy you having such a close family.

2to be glad that you do not have to do what somebody else has to donot envy somebodyIt's a difficult situation you're in. I don't envy you.not envy somebody somethingI don't envy her that job.

Word OriginMiddle English (also in the sense ‘hostility, enmity’): from Old Frenchenvie (noun), envier (verb), from Latininvidia, from invidere

‘regard maliciously, grudge’

, from in-

‘into’

+ videre

‘to see’

.Extra examplesI secretly envied her for her good looks.I don’t envy Ed that job.She had always envied my success.